Books - Recommended Reading

An exploration of differences in the way strategists think and why there is confrontation between people, groups and countries. The book offers practical solutions for dealing with conflict between different groups in business.

HOFSTEDE, Geert (1994), HarperCollins, London

Dr Elisabeth Marx has written an invaluable self-assessment guide to succeeding in international work--according to the author, one of the most stimulating and positive career experiences. A Director of the worldwide executive search company, Norman Broadbent International, where she focuses on the search for, and psychological development of, international executives, Dr Marx argues that culture shock, or 'the experience of foreignness' has become the critical factor for success in today's global business environment.
Focusing on the culture-shock triangle, a new model which shows you how to behave and think differently and balance your emotions, the book uses case studies to highlight means of coping with the highs and lows, in order to retain a sense of your own identity while achieving an international identity. As well as expert advice for both singles and working partners living overseas, helping children adapt to a different culture, relocation checklists, medical issues in tropical countries and returning home, there's also guidance for companies selecting and looking after international executives.
While international business leaders share their views on the subject and offer inspirational nuggets, the final chapter is a self-assessment exercise looking at the motivation, expectations and self-reliance necessary for successful global work whether abroad, at home in an international company or working as part of a cross-functional team in cyberspace.--Carey Green.

The premise of this work is that the successful managers of the 21st century will be the culturally sensitive ones. It also argues that competitive advantage can be gained from having strategies to deal with the cultural differences encountered in any international business setting. The author provides a guide to working and communicating across cultures, and discusses how language and culture affect the ways in which people think and respond. With advice ranging from differences in etiquette and body language to global negotiations and international marketing, this text provides direction for professionals from all areas of industry.

I found this book to be a concise and up-to-date discussion of German culture. This book travels well because it is organized by topic, or point, and each point is only one to three pages. This makes it easy to read for people who do not have large blocks of free time. The table of contents and index provides quick identification of points that readers may find of greatest interest. It also travels well because it would easily fit into any carry-on luggage or portfolio.

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice, non-analytical and non-judgmental; they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "little people", mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Michel Thomas's approach to language learning aims to provide in a few hours a functional working knowledge of a language without books, note-taking or conscious memorizing. This CD provides an eight-hour course in German
In taking on the teacher/pupil approach rather than the traditional listen/repeat/learn approach the Michel Thomas German course has proved to be an excellent starting point for learning German.
Instead of making you learn phrases parrot fashion, Michel teaches you the similarities between the German and English langauges along with some key ground rules so as to enable you to guess how each phrase should be constructed.